These photographs were taken on board the Asturias in November 1948, by Pat Piggott. His wife Irene (Rene) and son Michael are pictured with other passengers. If you can identify them, please let us know.

Peter George Russell - my father - was employed as a writer on the SS Asturias between approximately 1950 and 1953.

He visited Australia regularly and also Venezuela as well as Sri Lanka, but based out of Southampton. One of my uncles that served with him is still alive, Robin Riggs (my father married his sister) was also on board the ship and now lives in Logan Village near Brisbane.

However he loved his time at sea hugely. I think he joined the ship in 1948 at the age of 18. He served through until 1953 when he left the merchant navy to marry my mother. He not only served on the Asturias during peacetime but also took part in the troop movements to Korea.

The cockatoo that you can see in one of the photos was a gift from my father to my grandfather. Well, there were no quarantine rules in those days and dad simply brought back to my grandfather’s house. One night when the family had gone out to the cinema, the bird got out and totally wrecked the room, pulling down curtains, messing on the floor etc.

When they came home, my grandfather said ‘it’s me or the bird, so get rid of the damned thing…!’

For many years to come, whenever my dad and his father had an argument, he would always say to me “Son, I’m not sure if I made the right bloody choice - at least I could have caged the bloody bird!’ It always made me smile.

Dad passed away in 1995, but now I am trying desperately to know more about him.

Lee Russell
March 2013

If you remember anything about Peter Russell, his son Lee would love to hear from you. Contact this site to get in touch.